Just bought it! Can't wait for it to arrive, it was a very hard decision, too many choices rn

What frames have you personally researched thus far? And kindly give us your pros/cons/concerns of those frames.

This is much more efficient than us trying to shoot in the dark.

Yooo!

For now I'm for these frames:

• Velobuild VB-177: Currently at €399 it seems like a great deal to me, a little undecided about the stiffness of the frame and how good it could be for racing use
• Spcycle R088: (or SL8) aesthetically I like it better, it also seems like a good compromise with an aerial frame, I saw that it is on offer on alix, slightly more expensive than 177
• ICAN FL1: aesthetically very nice but more similar to aethos, I would use it less uphill

Opinions on the choices and any advice?

Hi, before you think about specific brands or manufacturers, you should decide on a rough geometry.

In the worlds of road bikes, those are mainly:

• Race bike: very aggressive geo, often with aero features "low and long" aka low stack and long reach
• Endurance bike: higher stack and shorter reach, makes for a more "relaxed" ride
• All-road bike: similar to and endurance bike but allows for (even) wider tires. Bit of a crossover to a gravel bike. Makes rides on rough terrain more comfortable

If you want to race (often), you might want to look into #1. However, the geometry can be uncomfortable, especially for beginners and if you lack general fitness and flexibility. You can practice (and get in shape) to be more comfortable on this type of bike but "comfort" is never a focus on these. They are meant to go around a track as fast as possible. Whether you are comfortable while doing so is not a top priority

#2 is a geometry that's usually more sensible for recreational riders. Especially, if you wanna do tours longer than 2-3h. That being said, I regularly do tours of 5-8h on a race bike as well. You are a bit more upright than on a race bike and - again depending on general fitness and flexibility - your body especially your back with be grateful for it. This doesn't mean you can't go fast or even race on these bikes. Many hobby racers do. You might just miss out on a few marginal gains. But in this class of racing, your general fitness and power will decide the race much more than a few watts saved by aero features.

#3 the "real" do-it-all bike. If you wanna take your road bike off the paved roads from time to time (aka light gravel riding), this might be something for you. Geometry is usually similar to the endurance bikes but they allow for a bit wider tires. You could even opt for 2 wheel sets: one for road riding/racing with fast tires and another one with wider gravel tires for your bike packing/gravel touring demands and added comfort and stability on uneven terrain.

I probably missed another "category" but I think those are the most common ones. And they aren't clearly defined. Frames overlap and might be in-between two categories. But these can help you decide what is most likely the best general fit for you.

Let me know if this was helpful or if you have further questions. Once you decided on a frame category, it makes more sense to look for a specific brand and model.

Hi! Thanks for the reply.

As far as geometry, I'm more used to the "race" type, I have good general flexibility and I've been cycling seriously for about a year, the intended use will mainly be 100+km races, do you have any frames in mind to recommend?
As for my size, I don't consider myself super light, 180cm (5.9ft) for 78kg (171 lb) but I'm working on lowering the weight a bit

Hi guys! I saw a local dealer selling this custom bike. I'm assuming it's a Chinese frame with some stickers on it, but I also see a UCI one. So, I was wondering—does anyone know what frame this is?

I saw a photo of this bike online, it looks like it's from the Aerotec brand, I couldn't find any information about the brand so I was wondering if any expert eye could recognize the frame manufacturer.

Thanks

Hi guys

Over the last few weeks, I had the chance to check out some well-known local bike brands in my area. I was staggered by the prices for what you get. For example:

- Merida Scultura 5000: A great-looking bike in the Bahrain Team colors. The price was €3000, equipped with 105 Di2, no wheels (i will put mine), and an overall weight of 8.5 kg (an aero bike, but quite heavy).

- Cannondale SuperSix: A more standard-looking bike from a more well-known brand. It cost €4600 for a 105 Di2 build, also with no wheels.

- Giant Propel Advanced 1: Another stunning bike, but priced at €4000 for an 8.5 kg build with 105 Di2.

- Cube Agree C:62 Pro: Not the most beautiful bike, but solid overall. For just €3300, it came in at 8 kg with carbon wheels. However, Cube is known for having some quality control issues.

In comparison, I looked at this custom build option:

Ican A9: UCI-approved frame (€1300)
Shimano Ultegra Di2 (€1300)
Elite Wheels Edge (€600)
Other components from my current bike, like tires, pedals, and bar tape.

For around €3000, I could get a much better bike: lighter, and in my opinion, more beautiful than the ones above. I just don’t understand why so many people want to ride these big-name bikes—you’re basically paying for the marketing while getting lower-quality components for a much higher price.

What do you guys think? Does my point make sense?

Also, where do you see this trend heading in the future? Personally, I think more people will start buying "Chinese frames" in the coming years.

Lastly, if this isn’t the right section for this topic, let me know, and I’ll move it.

Let me know if you'd like further tweaks!

1st of all, does your race/team need to use UCI certified frames?

Nope, i read all the documentation and the only reason to have the uci sticker is for ELITE race and cyclocross world champions, not my case

From what I've gathered while doing tons of reading through all these topics before pulling a trigger is that, if you're focused on velobuild, 268 would be your best bet. 168 was pretty good, but somwhat not stiff enough, 177 was stiffer but more lightweigt then aero focused, and 268 is mix that should be their best offer. I might be wrong, but I pulled the trigger on 268, and it's on the way in a week I hope, for my first road bike build.

LC017D from light carbon is on a good reputation from what I've seen. Seems nicely made, but the looks aren't something I fancy. That downtube...

SC-R55D looks good, weight seems really nice.

Hygge EPS moulded version also seems ok. And their stock paint job looks awesome imo. However, not sure about the retailer.

I suggest reading topics on these frames and making your decision based on what seems the best safe buy for your application. Take account on the numbers of people purchased the frame, problems encountered during assembly and after riding it... Good luck!

Thank's for the reply! For what i read on this forum Velobuild seems a pretty safe choise especially on the 177 i like more the look of it.